882 THE TROPICAL WORLD. 



bushes to observe what would happen. P'irst came crows, who 

 with loud croakings wheeled round the dead animal : then 

 after a few minutes kites and buzzards appeared, and finally 

 he saw the oricous descending from an enormous height. They 

 alighted upon the gazelle, and soon liundreds of raptorial birds 

 were assembled. Thus the small robbers had first pointed out 

 the way to those of middle size, who in their turn roused the 

 attention of the bandits of a higher order ; and none of them 

 came too short, for after the powerful oricous had dismembered 

 the carcase, some very good morsels remained for the buzzards, 

 and the bones furnished excellent pickings for the crows. 



The Bacha [Falco hacha, Daudin) inhabits India and Africa, 

 where he sits for days on the peak of precipitous cliffs, on the 

 look-out for rock-rabbits {Hyrax Capensis). These poor animals, 

 who have good reason to be on their guard, venture only with 

 the greatest caution to peep out of the caves and crevices in 

 which they take up their abode, and to which they owe their 

 Dutch name of ' klipdachs.' JMeanwhile the bacha remains 

 immovable, as if he were part of the rock on .which he perches, 

 his head muffled up in his shoulders, but watching with a sharp 

 eye every movement of his prey, imtil, finally, some unfor- 

 tunate klipdachs venturing forth, he darts upon him like a 

 thunderbolt. If this rapid attack proves unsuccessful, the 

 bacha slinks away, ashamed, like a lion that has missed his 

 spring, and seeks some new observatory, for he is well aware 

 that no rock-rabbit in the neighbourhood will venture to stroll 

 out during the remainder of the day. But if he succeeds in 

 seizing the klipdachs before it has time to leap away, he carries 

 it to a rocky ledge, and slowly tears it to pieces. The terrible 

 cries of the animal appear to sound like music in his ears, as if 

 he were not only satisfying his hunger but rejoicing in the 

 torments of an enemy. This scene of cruelty spreads terror 

 far and wide, and for a long time no klipdachs will be seen 

 where the bacha has held his bloody repast. 



The Fishing Eagle of Africa {Haliwtus vocifer\ first noticed 

 by Le Vaillant, ma}^ be seen hovering about the coasts and 

 river-mouths of that vast continent. He is never found in the 

 interior of the country, as tlie African streams are but thinly 

 stocked with fish, which form his principal food. ' Elastic and 

 buoyant, this agile dweller in the air mounts to soaring heights 



